Bread server or analogous seal tight container



Nov. 30, 1954 5, TUPPER 2,695,545

BREAD SERVER OR ANALOGOUS SEAL TIGHT CONTAINER Filed May 8, 1950 EHRL 6.TUPRER United States Patent BREAD SERVER 0R ANALOGOUS SEAL TIGHTCONTAINER Earl S. Tupper, Upton, Mass.

Application May 8, 1950, Serial No. 160,765

6 Claims. (Cl. ISO-0.5)

This invention relates generally to non-metallic receptacles havingseal-tight and removable non-metallic closures, but more specifically toa type of finger-operable seal for containers capable of repeated use.

Heretofore containers and receptacles with closurecaps have beenfabricated at least at the engaging portions from materials havingcharacteristics of resiliency and flexibility including compressedfiber, paper, cellulose, cellulose stock, plastic materials andcondensation products either by themselves or in various combinations,the caps being of the snap-on and off types due to physical properties.

The invention herein provides as an'object of the invention a fluid andair-tight joint between a receptacle and a removable closure member, thesealing properties of the closure being due to a combination of specificconstruction hereinafter set forth and physical characteristics of thematerial used such as polyethylene or other substance having similarproperties of elasticity, flexibility, local distortability.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of anon-metallic receptacle and a non-metallic sealing cap or closurewherein the closure is applicable to the rim of the receptacle byprogressive hand-pressure around the periphery for effecting aseal-tight closure and wherein the closure is removable by a handpeeling-off type of procedure.

The invention is further directed to a receptacle and closure thereforto effectuate a fluid and air-tight seal and which are made of amaterial which is inert to, does not absorb and is not readily wettableby water, which does not soften at operating temperatures below theboiling point of water and which at ordinary temperatures is odorlessand resistant to chemicals and solvents.

In addition, as features of the invention, the full body of thecontainer and closure when made of polyethylene l resistant todevelopment of mildews, microorganisms and insects.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of areceptacle and sealing closure therefor of the above characteristicswhich maybemolded bycompression or injection and which is economical tomanufacture, durable and efficient in operation.

Other incidental features of the invention will hereinafter appear inthe progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Accompanying this specification is a form of the invention wherein:

Figure l is a view in perspective showing a receptacle and closuretherefor in assembled position and in sealing relationship.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the receptacle and closure inseparated position showing the use of the receptacle as a bread server.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of Figure 1 along the plane 33thereof.

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view showing the closure inthe process of separation from the receptacle by a hand of the user.

In accordance with the invention in the form as shown, numeral indicatesgenerally the receptacle portion of a container and cover, and consistsof a conventional lower wall and a continuous lateral wall. The laterala drawing showing wall as shown is comprised of a pair of side wallseach indicated by numeral 11, and a pair of end walls each 1nd1cated bynumeral 12. It is of course understood that the lateral wall may becircular, square or of any polygonal shape.

The mouth or rim of receptacle 10 is provided with a continuous groovedefined by an inner wall 13, an outer wall 14 and a connecting base wall15. Groove outer wall 14 has an outwardly directed and horizontallydisposed flange 16 which is adapted to serve as a support .;for aperipheral and horizontally directed flange 17 which forms part of thecover member, the latter being generally designated by numeral 18.Flange 17 at least at the sides pro ects beyond flange 16 as indicatedby numeral 17' to serve as a finger gripping element to remove covermember 18 from receptacle 12 as will hereinafter be described.

Air and fluid type engagement between cover member 18 and receptacle 12takes place between the cover rim or wall portion 19, which depends fromthe inner end of flange 17, and the receptacle groove defined by walls13, 14, and 15. Rim 19 and flange 17 form the lower portion of covermember 18 and are continuous with the cover side and end walls 20 and21, the cover top wall being indicated by numeral 22.

The peripheral configuration of rim 19 conforms to the peripheralconfiguration of the receptacle groove defined by walls 13, 14 and 15and when the said rim engages the receptacle groove defined by walls 13,14 and 15 sealing engagement takes place between the outside of rim 19and the inside of groove wall 14, and between the bottom edge of the rimand the inside side of base wall 15 of the groove. The sealingengagement hereinabove described presupposes that the outside face ofrim 19 normally slightly overlaps the inside of groove wall.

14 regardless of the relative position of groove wall 13 with respect.to the rim. The resiliency of both the rim 19 and groove wall 14 createsa live and hermetical sealing. Where the groove Width between walls 13and 14 is slightly smaller than the thickness of rim 19and the latter iscentrally positioned with respect to the groove,

then sealing contact takes place between the inside of groove walls 13,14 and15 and both sides of the rim. if desirable, the groove walls 13.and 14 may be inclined as shown in the drawings to facilitate sealingcontact between the normally vertically extending rim walls and thegroove walls. Because of the elasticity and local distortability of rim19 and of the groove walls, substantial conformation with the shape ofthe groove as defined by walls 13, 14 and 15 will take place.

Receptacle 10 may function for any desired purpose,

but as shown, the cover 18 therefor also serves: as a bread serverhaving slices of bread resting therein as indicatedby numeral 23.However, the receptacle and cover above described may-serve not only asan open server but also as an hermetically sealed container or a breadbox. a

1 By virtue of the phvsical characteristics such as afiorded bypolyethvleneand from which receptacle 10 and cover 18 are made,affixation of the cover 18 to the receptacle is elfected preferably byfirst forcing a corner into the corresponding corner roove of thereceptacle and then sliding the thumb peripherally along the flange 17with downward pressure whereby cover wall rim 19 is forced into thegroove walls 13 and 14. For removal purposes, the cover 18 is peeled offfrom the receptacle or from the groove thereof by engaging the extendedside flange portions 17' by the fingers as best shown in Figure 4, theextension being grasped between the thumb and forefinger. The removal ofthe cover member is facilitated by the flexing of flange 17 as furthershown in Figure 4 whereby rim 19 of the cover becomes dislodged betweenthe inner sides of the grooves 13, 14 and 15.

Receptacle 10 and the closure 18 therefore have been essentiallydescribed as being made of a plastic having a slow rate of recovery, andbeing responsible for the mannor of application by progressive handpressing operation and the manner of removal by a hand peeling-0E typeof operation. However, this invention further contemplates a receptacleand a cover therefor made of any material such as glass, composition,metal and other ma- Furthermore, the invention embraces" afcover'and recept'acle "made of any rigid material wherein only the" groove"walls'lli, 14 and '15and flange 16"are made offa locally" distortableand resilient" material such as poly? ethylene or other substancehaving-similar characteristics;

Inthis connectionrim' 19' and flange 17 is rigid and may form part of arigid cover.

Thereceptacle and cover herein maybe used in the packaging .1 ofalcoholic liquids, carbonated beverages,

fruits, preserves, milk and;derivativeproducts, cheese, candies,vother'food's andibeveragesyacuum packedor'.

v inner and outer and base groove defining walls, and an otherwise andalso: for-drugs, proprietory preparations,

tobacco products etc";

Itiis tobe understood that-flange lfimay act asra handleaforcontainer-10withor without the cover 18"at tachedthereto' bygrasping theunderside by the fingers.

Flange. 16 alsoacts as aspreader for the container groove walls 13/and114 for initial disengagementof' a portion of rim19"by.mer'ely'depressingtaportion of flange 16.:

I.-w.ish it understood that minor changes and variations in-,the1materia1, shape, integration and position of parts. of.thevclosure and the 'cooperating'receptacle may'all be resortedtowithout departing from the spirit ofthe invention'and the scope of theappended claims.

It isfurther understood that the container Whenpa'rts 12 and 18. areassembled together may rest on'either the top,

or..bottom-Wal1 and that the closure'rim 19'and flange 17maybeapplied'to the receptacle 12 and'that the groove walls 13, ,14 and1 5 and flange 16 may be appliedto the I comprising arim receivingsocket forming the free edge oftthe container,- said socket being formedof inner, outer and base groove defining walls and an outwardly directedflange having a free edge extending from the outerwall,

said groovelwalls and flange'being formed of a resilient and locallydistortable material andbeing adapted respectively tofr-ictionallyreceive the'cover rim for an h'er'meti cal sealing jointand to serve both as a perimetric handle andspreader for removal of theclosure.

2. In an open mouth container of rectangular shape and a closuretherefor having a marginal 'rim provided being formed of inner, outerand'base groove defining wall's,the said groove walls being formed of aresilient and locally distortable material andbeing'adapted tofrictionally receive the cover rim for an hermetical 'se'aling joint'andsaid marginal rim being adapted to serve 'as a perimetric handle andmeans for removing the closure.

3. In anopen mouth container 'of rectangular shape and a .closuretherefor, a closure "rim provided with an outer stopflange, hermeticalsealing means for said rimon said container comprising a rim receivingsocket forming th'e"; top edge offthe container, said socket beingformed of 50 with a hand engageable flange, hermetical sealing means forsaid rirn on said container comprising a rim receiving 1 socket formingthe free edge of the container, said socket" outwardly directed 'flangehaving a'ff'ee'edgeitendiiig" from the outer wall, said rirri and outerstop flange and said groove walls and outwardly directed flange beingformed of a resilient and locally distortable material, said groovewalls and last named flange being adapted to frictionaliy receiverespectively the cover rim and the stop flange for an hermetical sealingjoint.

4. An 'o'pe'n mouth' container of rectangular shape and'a closuretherefor comprising T-ia closure rim provided with an outer stop flange,hermetical sealing means for said rim on said container comprising a rimreceiving socket forming the top=edge of the container, said socketbeing formed of inner, outer and base groove defining walls, said rimand outer stop flangeand' saidrgroove-walls being formed of a resilientand locally distortable material, said groove walls being adapted tofrictionally receive the cover rim for an hermetical sealing joint.

5. In an open mouth co'ntainer of -'rect'angular shape and afclosuretherefor having a rim'- provided WitH- anouter 5 stopflangether-metic'al sealing means for said rim of said closurecomprising' 'a -rimreceiving socket integral with and'formmgthe'free'edge of the container, said socket being 'formed ofinner, outerand bottom groove deflning Walls and anoutwardly-directedflange having a free edge extending from the outer wall, said groovewallsand flange being formed of a resil-ient and locally distortablematerial and bein gadapted to frictionally receive respectively theclosure rim and-the stop= flange for an hermetical sealing" joint. I

6. In an open -mouth container of rectangular shape anda' losuretherefor, a'closure rim provided with an outer stop'iflange both beingintegral with the closure and being formed of 'aresilient and locallydistortablemate rial, hermetical sealing means for said rim 'onsai'dficonta ner comprising a rim-receiving socket integral with andformmg thefree edge of the'containen'said socket being formed of inner,out'er and bottom groove definingwalls and"an outwa'rdly directed flangehaving a free edge extending from the outer wall, said groove wall andflange being-formedof'a'resilient and locally distortable material:

Number Name Date 119,603 Gunning. Oct. 3, 1871 905,212 Mor'rell Dec. 1,-1908' 1,187,219 With Jan. 13,1916 1;459, 437 Bowrnan June 19, 19231,561,330 Keller- Nov. 10, 1925- 1,700,611 Freeman Ian. 29, 19291,948,820 Lasker Feb; 27, 1934 2,080,283 Lowenfels May 11, 1937'2,099,056 Fern'gren' Nov. 16, 1937 2,207,210 Von'Knauf'u- July 9,' 19402,348,448 Brewer May 9,1944% 2,487,400 TupperL Nov. 8," 1949 2,501,983ia't. a.Mar." 28, 1950 2,606,586 Hill Aug.: 12, r1952 v

